Last Modified: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 12:05 a.m.

The Eugenias and Vezertzis family walks through Noccalula Falls Park on Monday during the last night of Christmas at the Falls in Gadsden. Officials estimated about 40,000 people came to the event this year.

<p>Attendance at Christmas at the Falls will be close to last year's total, according to Parks and Recreation Director Kerry Payne, even though the multimedia light show was open fewer days.</p><p>Payne on Monday said the attendance Friday evening set a record.</p><p>He said he was hoping for good weather and another large crowd Monday evening, the show's final night.</p><p>“Friday night was the biggest crowd we've ever had,” Payne said.</p><p>He estimated the crowd at 5,000, and said it was so large that some drivers parked where they shouldn't have and got stuck, and city personnel had to pull their cars out.</p><p>Crowds normally are the largest on Saturday evening, Payne said, but since there was a threat for severe weather Saturday, it was likely people decided to come Friday instead.</p><p>“I don't have a count on the number yet of people, but I tell you it was the biggest crowd, the most people we've ever had in there, since we took it over,” he said.</p><p>The city took over Christmas at the Falls from the Noccalula Improvement Association in 2007.</p><p>Last year's attendance was more than 40,000, and Payne said he'd have a better idea Monday night about how this year's attendance matches up.</p><p>“We're probably at 39 or 40 (thousand) at the moment,” he said, “I just haven't got a final count yet.”</p><p>He also has to add in combo tickets sold with the Hardin Center for “Let It Snow: The Exhibit” and the Festival of Trees.</p><p>“I think we'll equal last year, and we had three less nights this year,” Payne said, “so that's very good.” </p><p>The three nights in question occurred this month, when the show was rained out.</p><p>Christmas at the Falls opened the Friday after Thanksgiving and was to close Sunday, but was extended to Monday night.</p><p>Payne said it has become a tradition for families to come, plus the price is affordable.</p><p>“We keep adding things to it each year and people want to come and see what's added and what's new,” he said.</p><p>Payne said there's also been a lot of repeat business — people coming more than once. He said he's seen some local residents come two or three times, as he recognizes their faces.</p><p>Profits from the display will go toward purchasing more lights and features for next year, and also to make improvements to the park.</p>